PHILADELPHIA -- Andy Reid is no stranger to playoff football given the fact that Sunday's game will be his 19th as the Eagles head coach in his 12th season running the team.

But for a lot of their key players it will be their first, not only in an Eagles uniform but in the NFL.

There is plenty of youth on this Philly squad and that has translated into varying degrees of inconsistency -- meaning nobody really knows how they will respond Sunday when they take on the Green Bay Packers, Reid included.

In a way, their lack of a track record, their inexperience, has rejuvenated Reid as he prepares them for what they will face.

"It's important that the young players, the ones that haven't been through this, they understand that the speed of the game is faster in the playoffs and that mistakes are magnified," Reid said Wednesday.

"So you have to learn that if your weren't before, exhausting the process and making sure you have all the questions answered prior to the game, have your film study done, taken care of your body and you rest ... all of the things that you need to do to compete you've got to take care of or you'll get exploited. That's how it works.

"But we've got a pretty diligent group here of young players and we have some veteran players that have been through it and they share their experiences."

One of them is quarterback Michael Vick and Wednesday, he echoed Reid's thoughts.

"I just tell them it's going to be more intense," he said of what he told the younger players.

"It's going to be faster, but not to overthink, not to go crazy. It's still football. As long as they don't stress about it, they'll be fine."

Playoffs, Reid believes, are something special and should be treasured.

"Guys who are through it, they're excited about this time of the year and I'm sure Mike (McCarthy, Green Bay's coach) would tell you the same thing. They're fired up.

"It's a great privilege to be in the playoffs, it's a great reward and there's a certain energy that goes with it. There's a difference."

There's a difference for Reid this season as well as when he looks around as there's no Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins or Brian Westbrook leading the way.

"It's new and exciting and you know how I feel about those other guys," Reid said. "They left their legacy here and it will always stand.